Indicating cutout



May 12, 1942 R. w. sRNlTz 2,283,031

INDIGATING CUT-OUT Filed Feb. 18, 1941 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1942 INDICATING CUTOUT Richard W. Barnitz, Parkersburg, W. Va., assignor to Porcelain Product a corporation of Delawa s, Inc., Findlay, Ohio,

Application February 18, 1941, Serial No. 379,507

9 Claims.

The invention of which the following is a description in detail, relates to indicating cut-outs used on electrical transmission lines of relatively high voltage. Such transmission lines must be provided with fuses conveniently placed along the overhead lines or in advance of connected transformers. When an emergency or abnormal condition causes one of these fuses to open the circuit, the fact must be made evident to a lineman standing on the ground. When the fuse gives an indication of having burned out, it is then necessary for it to be replaced with a minimum of danger to the workman. At the same time it is desirable to insure the normal fuse from accidental or inadvertent dislodgment and from break-down caused by mechanical strain.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a cut-out in which the fuse tube or holder will drop out of the housing and indicate disconnection of the circuit as soon as the fuse link or wire has melted.

It is a further object of my invention to locate such a fuse-holder entirely upon the cover of the cut-out housing so that the act of opening the cover will remove the fuse-holder from contact with the transmission line.

It is a further object of my invention to block the removal of the fuse-holder from the cover until the latter has been opened regardless of whether or not the fuse linkv has been broken.

In particular my invention carries out the above objects by providing a fuse-holder which must be partially rotated for removal from the cover.

An additional object of my invention is to mount a fuse-holder upon the inside face of the housing cover with certainty in the operation ofthe mechanical details of the latch.

A further object of my invention is to reduce the strain which ordinarily attends the engagement between the latch mechanism and the normally operating fuse link.

Other objects of my invention will be clearly understood from the following description as illustrated for the purpose of example by the preferred form of the invention shown on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the improved electrical cut-out;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the inside face of the door and the fuse-holder carried thereby;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section 'taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 55 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing the method of pivotally supporting the cover.

By way of example, I have shown the preferred form of my invention as applied to an enclosed or housed electrical cut-out or fuse mechanism. Such devices are usually provided with an attached xture 5 to which a housing 6 is bolted in the usual manner. The xture 5 permits the housing to be mounted upon a transmission pole or cross arm. The housing is made of suitable electrical porcelain in a manner well known in the art. Housings of this type have overhanging tops 1, the front is open and the bottom also is open between the lower extensions of the side walls 8, 8. These side walls in an intermediate portion are brought closer together as shown at 9 in Fig. 4 to diminish the width of the opening for a purpose which will appear later.

The inside of the housing also has barriers or baiiles I0, I0 as is customary with devices of this character.

Above the barriers I0, I0 the' housing is recessed to receive an upper terminal II. This terminal is anchored by means of spring fingers I2 and I2a respectively to the top and sides of the inner walls of the housing. The terminal II carries a contact I3 consisting of a laminated flat spring, one end of which I4 is free and the other end riveted asat I5 with the spring ngers I2 to the terminal casting I I. A conductor I6 passes through a sleeve in thetop of the terminal II. Below the barriers I0, I0 the back Wall of the housing is also recessed to form a seat for a.

lower terminal I'I. This lower terminal is also anchored bythe spring fingers I8 in recesses of the side walls of the housing (see Fig. 4). This is similar to the anchorage of spring fingers I2 to the sides of the housing walls. A contact I9 formed of laminated atsprings is riveted to the lower terminal I1 by rivet 20 and has its free end 2| bent backward to form a resilient contact. A second conductor 22 passes transversely through the housing and is anchored in a sleeve forming part of the lower terminal I1.

A cover or door 21 also of porcelain Bakelite or similar material is provided with'a narrow lower portion 28 which has atransverse opening. This opening has a transverse 24 centered by the enlargements 25. The pin 24 is eccentrically'mounted in two guide plates 23 on opposite sides of the door portion 28. The ends of pin 24 rest in stirrups 26, 26 anchored on the inner faces of the side Walls 8, 8. The stirrups 26, 26 have upper front openings 26a and are inwardly offset at their upper-ends to form retainers 25h. Retainers 2Gb overhang the plates 23 preventing the pin ends 24 from rising in the stirrups or being removed through the openings 26a except when the door 21 is inverted The upper outer portion of the door is shaped to provide a finger hold 29.

The inner surface of the door is equipped to support a fuse-holder, maintaining electrical connection between it and the spring contacts |4 and 2| when the door is in the closed position by permitting the fuse-holder to drop out of contact with the members |4 and 2| into visible indicating position with the door closed. The retaining means on the door prevents complete separation of the fuse-holder from the door until the fuse-holder has been given a partial rotation.

To accomplish this purpose a collar 3B is bolted to the upper portion of the door. The collar has an annular opening 3| which will receive the upper ferrule of the fuse-holder. The collar is extended in front and tapered downwardly to provide an extension or projection 32. This projection rests against the upper terminal and forms a stop for the door in its closed position. While some of the current may pass through the projection 32 and to the upper ferrule of the fuse-holder, principal reliance is made on the spring Contact 4| for the dual purposes of maintaining electric contact and assisting in the dropping movement of the fuseeholder when released by the latch.

The lower portion of the door beneath the collar 30 carries a retaining sleeve 33. This sleeve is bolted to the door as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and has its main portion slotted vertically or longitudinally as at 34. It thus provides a cylindrical passageway to retain the fuse-holder but permits it to drop down when the fuse is broken.

Beneath the retaining sleeve 33 the inner face of the door is recessed as at 35. A flat spring 36 is held by the door and at its low-er free end has an upwardly directed catch 31. The spring holds the catch 31 normally out of the recess 35 into which .it is pressed during the operation of assembling the fuse-holder on the door.

The fuse-holder 3B is provided in the customary form asa hollow tubular member of ber, plastic or similar material. It has an upper metallic contacting ferrule 39 which is screw-threaded to receive the cap 401by which the upper end of the fuse Wir-e `is attached. The lower end of the ferrule is enlarged as shown at 4| and carries a radially extending lug or stop 42. It is possible to omit the enlargement 4| if convenient. If it is used it will of course be less in diameter than the inner passageway of the retaining sleeve 33. The stop 42, however, extends far enough out to strike the upper face of the retainer 33.

The fuse-holder 38 has a lower ferrule 4.3 of metal and forming the support of a binding post 44. A knurled nut 45 on the post 44 serves for the attachment of the lower free end of the fuse wire 46.

The lower ferrule is extended on one side to form the projection 41 through which the transverse pivot pin 48 runs. A lever 49 is loosely pivoted on pin 48 and held in position by any suitable means. One end of the lever 49 extends across the end of the fuse tube in the form of a hollow ring around which the fuse wire 46 is wrapped before beingV attached'to the binding post 44.

The opposite end of the lever 49 'is in the form f link and nally to the other conductor.

of a latch 55. This latch 50 is formed to fit the catch 31 with a slight inclination in the plane of engagement as shown in Fig. l. This insures the holding of latch 50 by catch 31 under the spring pressure from contacts I4 and 2| and prevents failure by reason of inadvertent disengagement. It Will also be seen that this method o! engagement places the tension spring 36 on the door and away from the movable fuse tube.

The lower ferrule 43 has a longitudinal rib, flange or web 5|. This slides loosely in the slot 34 of the retainer 33 and takes the position shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4. The rib 5| terminates in a transverse contact bar 52 of substantial extent. This gives an extended bearing transversely against the free end of the spring contact 2|.

The use of lever 49 free from any spring permits the assembly of the latch 5U and the fuse 46 in operative position without imposing any tension cn the latter other than that resulting indirectly from springs I2 and 2| and the Weight of the fuseholder itself. The relative length of the lever 49 compared with the latch 53 increases the strain carried by the latch but decreases the strain which may be imposed by the relatively longer lever 49 on the fuse link 45 thus the latter is protected against failiu'e other than that which may be caused by abnormal circuit conditions.

The fuse tube thus arranged is mounted in position on the door by rst sliding the ferrule 39 through the retainer 33 with the stop 42 passing through the slot 34. The fuse tube isthen given a partial rotation, such as indicated in Fig. 3 as an example, and this brings the rib 5| in line With the slot 34. The fuse tube as it is raised brings the latch 50 against the catch 31 forcing the latter back and releasing it into locking engagement as shown in Fig. l.

The assembly having been completed with the door in open position, it is then closed bringing the projection 32 against the upper terminal In this movement the spring contact |4 is compressed against the cap 4|) and the spring contact 2| is compressed by the contact bar 52 against which it is maintained with an extended engagement.

Normal current then passes from one conductor through the adjacent spring contact, the fuse On the event of an abnormal ow of current beyond the limit provided by the fuse link, the latter fuses and releases the lever 49 for pivotal movement. Pressure from the contacts |4 and 2| swing latch 50 away from catch 31 thus permitting the fuse tube to drop by the pressure of the springs and its own gravity into the dotted line position shown in Fig. l. Here the stop 42 comes to rest upon the upper face of the retainer 33. The fuse tube may then be given a partial rotation to bring the stop 42 in line with the slot 34 through which it may be drawn to completely release the fuseholder.

The inadvertent removal of the fuse-holder is prevented by the restricted portions of the side walls 9` which prevent the rotation of the fusetube to the degree required to bring the stop 42 in line with the slot 34.

I have shown my invention as embodied in the device above described but reserve the right to make such .changes in proportions, dimensions and materials as is provided by the scope of the following claims. f

What I claim is:

1. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring contacts on said terminals, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door beneath the collar, a spring catch on the door, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, and a fuse-controlled latch pivoted tacts on said terminals, a door hinged to the housing, a collar cn the door, a sleeve on the on the lower end of the fuse-tube, said tube being pressed by the spring contacts downwardly against the catch when the door is closed. i

2. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring contacts on said terminals, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door .beneath the collar, a spring catch on the door, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, a latch pivoted on the lower end of the fuse-tube, anda fuse link having its free end passed around the latch and anchored with the latch extended for engagement with said catch.

3. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door beneath the collar, a spring catch on the door, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, a lever pivoted on the tube, a binding post mounted on the tube, a fuse link having its free end passed around the lever and held by said binding post and a latch on the end of the lever for engagement with said catch.

4. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring contacts on said terminals, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door beneath the collar, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, means for releasably latching the tube in operative position, and a radially extending stop on the tube for arresting the downward sliding movement of the tube through the sleeve when the tube is unlatched, said sleeve being slotted longitudinally to provide a limited angular clearance for controlled passage of the stop therethrough.

5. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring con tacts on said terminals, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door beneath the collar, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, means for releasably latching the tube in operative position and a radially extending stop on the upper ferrule of the fuse-tube, said sleeve being slotted longitudir nally for an angular extent sufficient to provide clearance for the controlled passage of the stop therethrough.

6. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring condoor beneath the collar, said sleeve being longitudinally slotted, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, means for releasably latching the tube in operative position, upper and lower ierrules on the tube, a narrow longitudinal rib on the lower ferrule, and a stop on the upper ferrule narrower than the slot in said sleeve, said stop being angularly displaced with respect to said rib.

'7. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring contacts on said terminals, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door beneath the collar, said sleeve being longitudinally slotted, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, means for releasably latching the tube in operative position, a ferrule on the tube, a longitudinal rib on the fer rule slidable through the slot in the sleeve and a relatively wide extension on the rib engaging one of said spring contacts.

8. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring contacts on said terminals inwardly projecting portions in the lower side walls of said housing, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve being longitudinally slotted, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, means for releasably latching the tube in operative position, a ferrule on the tube, a longitudinal rib on the ferrule and an extension on said rib occupying the major amount of the space between said inwardly projecting portions of the side Walls.

9. An enclosed cut-out having a bottomless housing and line terminals therein, spring contacts on said terminals, inwardly projecting portions in the lower side walls of said housing, a door hinged to the housing, a collar on the door, a sleeve on the door beneath the collar and opposite said inwardly projecting portions of the side walls, said sleeve being longitudinally slotted, a fuse-tube slidable vertically through said sleeve and collar, means for releasably latching the tube in operative position, an upper ferrule on the tube, a stop projecting radially from the ferrule, a lower ferrule on the tube, a longitudinal rib on the ferrule radially spaced from said stop, said rib being slidable through the slot of the sleeve and an extension on said rib occupying the major amount of the space between said inwardly projecting portions of the side walls.

RICHARD W. BARNITZ. 

